Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Beating The Summer Time Blues

Did you know that young people lose academic gains over the summer? According to research students lose about two months of grade level equivalency in mathematical skills( White, 1906; Heyns, 1978; Entwisle & Alexander 1992; Cooper, 1996; Dowehey et al, 2004). As a mother of a 19, 15 and 11 year old, I know how important it is to take advantage of the Early Elementary Years. Our Children remain our babies for what seem like only a moment, and by high school all we get or hear are the sounds of doors closing. Base on my experience there are two academic skills that we should encourage our children to sharpen over the summer; that would be Reading and Mathematical Concepts: Below I have compiled my favorite Web Sites for the Busy Parent Reading/Literacy Engagement Starfall Age: 3-5 We Give Books age: 3-10 http://www.wegivebooks.org/ Story Line On Line age: 3-10 http://www.storylineonline.net/ Mathematical Engagement: Elementary-High School Khan Academy https://www.khanacademy.org/ Hope you find these useful-Have a Fun Summer!!!!!

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Dinner With My Family

Amazing Summer!!!- I am so happy for this time with family-2013-2014 school year was a world wind for me. I completed my Master's at the same time taking on Kindergarten for the first time...I made it Yeah!!!! and I feel so Blessed. Now I am taking time for family, trying to get back quality family time. My first task is to get the Family together around the dinner Table at least Once per week, however, the trick is to find some quick and simple meals, that can be replicated once the School Year is in full swing again and everyone is going this way and that. I found the following recipe on the Food Network and for a "non cooker" I am very pleased with myself: Cupcake Lasagna with Fresh green salad drizzled with creamy strawberry dressing YUM!!! it was a Hit! with my family. This dinner took about 35 minutes from start to finish.